Spring has just really got underway, and summer is already within reach. This definitely applies to the Röhrig granite holiday camp. At the Sonderbach family business, preparations for the big event are in full swing. And now it is also clear who will be there in late July and early August.
At the moment the participants have been determined. The interest was even greater than at the previous camp two years ago: more than 160 girls and boys aged between seven and twelve from Heppenheim and the surrounding area expressed their interest this time by filling in a pre-registration coupon or by e-mail. There are places for sixty children. Twenty more places are reserved for the offspring of Röhrig employees. The lot has now decided. Heppenheim’s head of the city council, Susanne Benyr, and first city councilor, Christine Bender, pulled numbered spheres out of a large transparent bowl; together they have the patronage of the summer event. The numbers were assigned to the names of the girls and boys interested in participating on a list. The participants were to be informed by mail. And also for those who had no luck at the raffle, there is a consolation. They receive a puzzle, the Röhrig mascot, but above all: they can join a nature workshop at Röhrig granit in autumn, if they wish. The day workshops are offered on several dates during the first and second week of the autumn school holidays, including meals and a visit to the Röhrig quarry in Sonderbach. “Nobody should go away empty-handed”, says Birgitt Bauer, who organizes the holiday camp at Röhrig, adding: “But unfortunately, the number of places at the camp is limited. There’s no other way.”
The camp was held for the first time in 2010. Since then, it has grown steadily. Every two years, it is on the agenda, only 2014 was skipped in favor of a big celebration on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Röhrig. The holiday camp is a child care offer during the last week of the summer holidays. From morning until late afternoon, there will be a range of activities and care. “Stones, nature, and habitats” is the leitmotif, everything revolves around it. On site on the camp site at the “House of the Associations” in Heppenheim, with excursions, and at the big farewell party with mile of presentation.
Röhrig granit, a stone-processing company, sees the camp as part of its social commitment, which is constantly being expanded in the field of experiencing and understanding nature and nature conservation. At the drawing of participants, the head of the city council, Benyr, and the first city councilor, Bender, showed great interest in the company and its commitment in the region and for the region. “That is not a matter of course, such a commitment to social issues and for the city”, commented the two representatives of the city, noting: “Many have ideas. But you also have to implement them.” At Röhrig, Benyr and Bender summed up, enthusiasm for social commitment can be felt.
CEO Marco Röhrig presented the company together with Jovita Röhrig. The holiday camp idea and the concept of this year’s event were presented by Birgitt Bauer. This year, the camp will again be supported by a large team of caregivers. Röhrig’s staff as well as the nature conservation association (Nabu), Hessen Forst, pedagogues, and mineralogists will be present. The participation fee of thirty euros per child is completely donated to Nabu. This has also been a constant right from the start.
The holiday camp has its beginnings in visits to kindergartens and schools in the Röhrig quarry in the Heppenheim neighborhood of Sonderbach. The interest of the little ones in nature, which can be discovered with and around the subject of stones, became obvious. At the same time, CEO Marco Röhrig and his team were aware that there is a need for childcare services especially for school children during the school holidays. The idea for the holiday camp was born. That was in 2010. Experience, learning, and care come together in the concept, which has been based on the guiding principle of “stones, nature, and habitats” from the very beginning. In the meantime, the offer has gained recognition far beyond Heppenheim. Two years ago, the concept was awarded the second prize by the umbrella organization of the German aggregates industry (Bundesverband Mineralische Rohstoffe, MIRO) at the awarding of the sustainability prize in the category of social affairs.
PLAYING LADY LUCK: Heppenheim’s first city councilor Christine Bender (right) and the head of the city council Susanne Benyr (second from right) are the patrons of Röhrig granit’s 2018 holiday camp. Children from Heppenheim and the surrounding area are very interested in participating in the summer event. The participants have now been drawn by the patrons from the pre-registrations. A large lottery bowl was waiting on the premises of the Sonderbach company. Röhrig’s CEO Marco Röhrig and Jovita Röhrig were also present at the draw.
Photo: Th